S. 843

119 S843 ES: Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025
 U.S. Senate
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 843  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES  AN ACT
To require the Secretary of Commerce to establish the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Grant Program.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025  .
2.
Sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response
Section 408 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 ( 16 U.S.C. 1421f–1 ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:
(10)
Sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response
(A)
In general
Subject to the availability of appropriations specific to address sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response, the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall include separate eligibility for grants under this subsection to address the purposes described in paragraph (2) with respect to sea turtles.
(B)
Conditions of grant
A grant awarded under this subsection to address sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response shall—
(i)
include the equivalent grant criteria and administration authorities and requirements described under paragraph (3), subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (4), and paragraphs (5) through (9), developed, as appropriate, and awarded separately for sea turtles and in consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in lieu of the Marine Mammal Commission; and
(ii)
in addition to the considerations under paragraph (4)(B), also consider rehabilitation of stranded sea turtles.
(C)
Eligibility criteria
In order to apply for a grant awarded under this subsection to address sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response, an entity shall—
(i)
submit an application described in paragraph (5) to the Secretary of Commerce with respect to sea turtles;
(ii)
be authorized by and in compliance with—
(I)
an authorization issued under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1539(a)(1)(A) ) with respect to sea turtles; or
(II)
a cooperative agreement entered into under section 6 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1535 ) with respect to sea turtles;
(iii)
comply with the standard conditions for care and maintenance of captive sea turtles prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior when relevant facilities will be utilized for such purposes; and
(iv)
comply with all relevant data reporting, requirements, such as the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network data collection requirements.
 ;
(2)
by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
(c)
Rescue and rapid response funds
(1)
In general
There is established in the Treasury of the United States—
(A)
an interest-bearing fund to be known as the  Joseph R. Geraci Marine Mammal Rescue and Rapid Response Fund ; and
(B)
an interest-bearing fund to be known as the  Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund .
(2)
Use of funds
Amounts in the funds established under paragraph (1) shall be available only for use by the Secretary to provide emergency assistance.
 ; and
(3)
in subsection (d)—
(A)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
in subparagraph (A), by inserting  marine mammal rescue and response  after  to carry out the ;
(ii)
by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);
(iii)
by inserting after clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) the following:
(B)
Authorization of appropriations with respect to sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response
There is authorized to be appropriated for the Secretary of Commerce to carry out the sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response grant program under subsection (b)(10), $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030, to remain available until expended.
 ; and
(iv)
in subparagraph (C), as redesignated by clause (ii), by inserting  or (B)  after  subparagraph (A) ; and
(B)
by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
(2)
Rescue and rapid response funds
There is authorized to be appropriated—
(A)
to the Joseph R. Geraci Marine Mammal Rescue and Rapid Response Fund $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030; and
(B)
to the Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030.
 .
    Passed the Senate March 22, 2026.    Secretary